As I always state when I write up a review for a YA fiction novel, I am most certainly not in the target audience, but when something draws my interest, I give it a chance. Having read the first book in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments’ series, CITY OF BONES, and liked it well enough despite some flaws, it was natural to move on the second book in the series, CITY OF ASHES. Many YA series get off to a good start with a first book that pulls readers in with a decent hook and characters, who if not original, at least feel like a new take on familiar tropes. The hard work comes in the subsequent novels when suspense has to be kept up, and character arcs sometimes begin to bend to the breaking point.

CITY OF ASHES begins pretty much where the previous book left off with the series MC, Clary Fray, wanting to get back to a normal life even though she is now involved in a secret world filled with supernatural creatures—vampire and werewolves—along with magic and warlocks. Not only that, but her mother is still in a coma, and she has to deal with the fact that she is the daughter of a Big Bad named Valentine, which makes her the sister to Jace, the hot boy Shadowhunter (warriors who keep order in this secret world). Not to mention that her mundane (normal human) best friend Simon, wants to be way more than friends. Things take a turn when Valentine steals a couple of McGuffins, and uses them to drain the blood from warlocks, vampires and werewolves as part of some ritual that would release hordes of demons into the this world—the usual Big Bad stuff. Jace is suspected of helping his evil father, and then Simon gets turned into a vampire, and it is up to Clary to set things right.

The pacing of CITY OF ASHES is one of its strongest points, and Clare does know how to hit the basic plot points to keep me turning the pages. In this second book, she allows many of the supporting characters to grow and step out so that they are more than knock-off versions of people we met in the Harry Potter books and Star Wars, something I took the author to task for in my review of CITY OF BONES. Her world building skills are more than adequate here, so that I felt part of this fantasy secret world, and not a “mundane.” For these kind of fantasy books to work, the reader, especially teenage ones, need to feel like they are just as special as the main characters. There is a mean adult authority figure who makes life tough the young characters, who at first seems like a standard YA fantasy trope, but then Clare puts a spin on it that keeps it from becoming a cliché. And as a villain, Valentine has some moments that elevate him from being a discount Voldemort.

The big problem with CITY OF ASHES is that Clare fails to make Clary more interesting, she’s still just a standard YA fiction heroine. Many of the supporting characters and their stories, such as Magnus and Alex, Maia and Simon, often feel like they would be more interesting MCs. Then there is the incestuous feelings between Clary and Jace that come off as just plain oogy. For me, it was a real distraction, especially when Clare goes out of her way to describe Jace, a typical YA fiction dude with attitude, as having “golden” skin and hair, not to mention long eyelashes. But as some reviewers have pointed out, the forbidden attraction of incest is a big theme in fan fiction, which was where Clare got started in her writing, so I guess it is a real thing with a lot of readers. I’m just not one of them. I couldn’t help but think that a series centered on Clary and Simon, might have worked better, where a teenage Shadowhunter has to deal with her boyfriend after he is turned into a vampire.

Anyway, this second book in the series ends on a note of suspense that sets the stage for the next volume. I have the third book in the series, CITY OF GLASS, on my shelf, and I will be taking it down to read in the very near future. ( )

3.5 Stars. Potential spoilers.

Not one of my favorites so instead of an in-depth review, I'll add brief pros and cons.

Pros: The "idea" of the series is entertaining. It has fantasy, escapism, magic, etc. The writing, while not great, is sufficient. In this book we learn a lot more about Valentine and he appears several times and I think that the plot progresses, which is good.

Cons: The romance plot is a mess. The entire false notion that Clary and Jace are siblings and their star-crossed, potentially incest lovers theme is off-putting but more importantly boring. Nothing really happens or occurs to develop their relationship and as such it remains superficial. Despite the progression of the plot I felt that the characters were fairly stagnant, particular Clary. As for the men, maybe I have high standards but Jace and Simon both lack any really redeeming or likeable qualities with the exception of Simon's devotion to Clary. ( )

Full disclosure, I have not finished reading this book but I am finished with it. I just can’t take the implied incest; yes, I’m sure the characters are not really brother and sister, but they have no reason to believe they are not. Just not my cup of tea ( )

Loved it. My favorite genre! ( )

Vampires